Railway-signal



No. 623,672. Patented Apr. 25, 1899. J. JORGENSUN.

RAILWAY SIGNAL.

(Application filed Dec. 22, 1898.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

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THE NORRIS PEYERS CO1 PI'K)'\'OLITNO. WASHINGYON D C J. JOBGENSON.

(No Model.)

RAILWAY SIGNAL.

(Application filed Dec. 22, 1898.)

Patented Apr. 25, I899.

2 She'ets-Sheet 2.

ilNrran STATES PATENT Crrrcn.

JOHN JORGENSON, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

RAILWAY=SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 623,672, dated April 25, 1899.

Application filed December 22, 1898. Serial No. 699,996. (No model-l T0 at whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN JORGENSON, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Railway-Sign als; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

This invention relates to a signaling device which is especially applicable to the crossings of lines of railway, but may also be used wherever it is desirable to employ a signal.

It consists, essentially, of signals placed in suitable relation to the points where they are to be exposed or concealed, an electromagnetic device for actuating the signal, a latch and electrically-actuated disengaging device whereby the electromagnet is employed momentarily to place the signal in the proper condition, where it is latched or held by the detent, and a mechanism by which the detent is released when the signal is to be restored to its normal condition.

It also comprises details of construction to be more fully explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a street-crossing, showing the application of my signals. Fig. 2 is a detail of device to operate the signals. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through the case andcap, showing the interior mechanism. Fig. 4: is a similar section on linea: a; of Fig. 8. Fig. 5 is a detail, part in section and part in elevation, showing one of the counterweights and a portion of one of the levers F.

A mechanism for the purpose designed is here shown as consisting of a series of signals A, fixed with relation to the tracks B of two lines of railway which cross each other, so that two of the signals are separated transversely sufficiently to be employed with relation to the up and down tracks of one of the lines of railway, and the other two signals A are similarly separated transversely to the first -na1ned signals and essentially in line above the up and down tracks of the other line of railway. These signals may consist of white or other permanently-colored signals for day use or lights of any suitable description for night use. These lights may be oil, gas, electric, or other form. In the present case I have shown electric lights, and above these lights are fixed casings C of sufficient diameter to contain movable globes D, which are suspended in such a manner that they may be depressed below the casings C, and thus caused to inclose the signals, and may be moved into the casings to conceal themselves and expose the signals. The globes are made of the color which is employed as a danger-signal, and in the present case they will be indicated as red. These globes are each suspended by a yoke or framework E and links E from lever-arms F, which are f ulcrumed, as shown at f. The rear ends of these lever-arms are sufficiently heavy to normally raise the globes and retain them concealed within the casings.

G G are electromagnets having armatures H, which are arranged to be attracted by the electromagnets whenever the latter are energized. The armatures are connected with the levers F in such a manner that when the electromagnets are energized and draw the armaturestoward themselves they will also act to depress the colored globes, and thus cause them to coincide with the signals and produce the corresponding colored or danger signal.

It will be understood that the magnets may be arranged in various ways with relation to the levers, and the connections may also be varied without materially altering the character and operation. A convenient arrangement of the mechanism is here shown, where the magnets are supported upon a table or framework J, which also carries the casings C, and the Whole framework is suspended by rods, wires, or other suitable connections K, extending to supporting-posts L upon each side of the street or crossing-point.

In order to protect the magnets and the delicate movable parts from the action of wind, rain, and storms generally, I prefer to inclose them in a housing, as shown at M, and the tops of the casings may also have a cap or cover M, which may extend from the tops of the casings above the housings which contain the magnets, thus protecting the whole of these parts from storm.

Whenever a magnet is energized, the tendency of the armature is to move quickly by reason of the attraction; but the weight of the globe-lever and the parts to be moved being considerable I have so constructed a device that the armature is allowed to move quickly and by its movement relieve the globe of a certain proportion of the counterbalanceweight, thus allowing the globe to move more slowly after the armature has been attracted.

As here shown, the lever F is fulcrumed to a counterweight N, which extends rearwardly from the fulcrum-pin, and the lower part of the front end of the counterweight contacts with the lower side of the lever F when the parts are in their normal condition, and thus forces the lever up and moves the globe into the concealing-casing. \Vhen the armature is attracted, it instantly tilts the counterweight N, thus relieving the lever F of the pressure which normally holds it up, and the weight of the globe and connected parts will then be sufficient to cause the globe to drop slowlyout of the casing and to a point where it iucloses or conceals the signal. \Vhenever the electrical current is cut off and the electromagnet ceases to act, the armature, being disengaged, rises by the action of the counterweight N, and the counterweight also acts upon the lever F and raises the globe into the concealing-casing.

The operation of energizing the magnet is practically effected by the action of the approaching car or train, which when it reaches a point at a sufiicicnt distance from the crossing will operate contact-pieces in such a mannor as to close an electrical circuit and enernize the magnet.

The current of electricity maybe produced from a local battery of sufficient strength, or where electricity is used, as a motor, or an electric current is available, this may be employed.

The operation is well illustrated in the present drawings by a bell-crank lever O, fulcrumed with relation to the track, so that the passing car or train will actuate this lever and will connect the poles P by interposing a conducting contact-pieee Q, which will complete the circuit through wires U to magnets G. As the circuit is completed at some distance from the crossing-point and as the signal-globe must be maintained in its position until after the car has passed the crossing, I have found it desirable to prevent the exhaustion of the battery or the undue use of the electrical on rrent by cutting off the current as soon as the electromagnet has been sufficiently energized to attract its armature. In order to do this without releasing the armature, I have shown a spring-latch B so disposed with relation to the armature II that when the latter has been attracted by the energizing of the eleetromagnets G the latch will instantly engage the armature and retain it in position. The lever 0, being instantly released after the passage of the ear or train, then breaks the circuit by withdrawing the contact-point Q and cuts off any further flow of the electrical current through wires U; but as the armature II is already locked the dcenergizing of the magnet 0 will have no effect of allowing the armature to move.

The latch R forms a part of or is connected with an armature R, which is actuated by an electromagnet S, so fixed with relation to this armature that when it is energized it attracts the armature R, disengages the latch R from the armature II, and allows the latter to move and release the globe, as previously described.

The electromagnet S is energized by means of a lever or other device T, suitably placed with relation to the passing car and wire connections V, and at the instant when it is desired to restore the signal to its normal condition this lever-arm is moved and contacts are completed similar to those shown at P and Q and wires V, thus energizing the magnet S sufficiently to cause it to act upon its armature B. As soon as this action has been effected the current through wires V is again out off in the same manner as previously described. I thus em ploy the electrical current only long enough to energize the respective magnets and produce the desired operation of parts, but do not maintain the current at any one time so long as to waste it or exhaust the battery from which it is derived.

It will be manifest that the arrangement of the signals and the operative parts and the manner of supporting the same may be changed mechanically to suit the conditions under which they are placed or the desires ofthe user without materially altering the character of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination with two transverselycrossing lines of track, of a plurality of alternately-actuated signals, including opaque or concealing casings, disposed with relation to said signals, and colored globes movable with relation to the signals and the concealing-casings, and mechanism for moving said globes including fulcrumed lever-arms, electromagnets and means for deenergizing the same, armatu res disposed with relation to the magnets and means connecting the armatures with the arms at points at one side of the fulcrums of the latter whereby the arms are operated by the armatures when the electromagnets are deenergized, to move the globes with relation to the concealing-casings.

2. The combination with a line of track, a signal including a concealing-casing and a globe, one movable with relation to the other, of means for operating the signal including an electromagnet and armature, a lever-arm from which the movable part of the signal is carried, and means connecting the armature with the lever-arm at one side of the pivotal connection of the latter whereby the arm is operated to actuate the movable part of the signal when the electromagnet is deenergized.

In an apparatus of the character described, signals and opaque concealing-casings disposed with relation to each other,

globes, counterbalanced levers by which said globes are suspended and normally retained within the casings, supplemental counterweights with which the armatures are connected and which normally act upon the levers to retain the globes Within the casings,

and electromagnets with means for energizing them whereby the armatures are attracted and the levers are first relieved of the counterweights, and allowed to operate by gravitation.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, signals, opaque or concealing cases and globes movable with relation to the signals and the concealing-casings, fulcrumed levers by which the globes are suspended, independent counterweights acting upon the levers to normally retain the globes within the concealing-casings, armatures and links connecting them with the independent counterweights, electromagnets and means for energizing the same whereby the armatures are attracted and the counterweights moved so as to relieve the suspending-levers and allow the globes to be moved with relation to the concealing-cases and the signals.

5. In a signal apparatus, fixed signals, globes movable to inclose or disclose the signals and concealing-cases to receive the globes, an actuating mechanism consisting of fulcrumed counterweights, electromagnets and armatures therefor, connections between the armatures and the counterweights whereby thelatter are lifted by the energizing of the magnets, levers by which the globes are moved, said levers being fulcrumed to the counterweights so that the latter are moved independently by the electromagnets, and lugs or projections upon the counterweights to engage the levers and move in unison therewith when the electromagnets are deenergized.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN JORGENSON.

WVitnesses:

JEssIE O. BRQDIE, S. H.-NoURsE. 

